PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name: ZHAO Chengzhu
Gender: Female
Title: Associate Professor
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: chengzhu.zhao@cqmu.edu.cn
EDUCATION EXPERIENCE
2009.4 - 2011.3 Master, Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama University
2011.4 - 2016.3 PhD, Pharmaceutical Science, Kyoto University
WORKING EXPERIENCE
2016.5 - 2021.7 Postdoctoral Researcher, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University
2021.9 – present Associate Professor, Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University
RESEARCH INTERESTS
The main research interests of Dr. Zhao focus on disease research using iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell) technology, including disease modeling/mechanistic studies/drug development, as well as applications of iPSC-derived cells in regenerative medicine. Dr. Zhao aims to establish iPSC differentiation systems towards the mesodermal and neural crest lineages by mimicking natural embryonic development process or by manipulating the expression of specific genes. Notably, the research also involves the creation of mesenchymal stem cells with a strong ability to promote bone growth, as well as the establishment of a large-scale production system for clinical applications in treating bone defects within the field of regenerative medicine.
GRANTS
1. 2023.1-2025.12, The mechanism of BMP-9-mediated abnormal proliferation of MSCs in the flare-up of fibrodysplasia ossifications progressive, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Young Scientists Fund Project, 82202655
2. 2021.4-2023.3, Identification and Analysis of Molecular Mechanisms Driving Cell Proliferation Acceleration in FOP Due to ACVR1 Mutations, JSPS Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C), 21K06855
3. 2019.4-2021.3, Mechanism elucidation and drug development of early-stage FOP respond to TGF-β signaling using patient-derived iPSCs, JSPS Grants-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists, 19K16540
4. 2017.4-2019.3, Drug development of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive stitutive activation of FOP-ACVR1, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grants-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists (B), 17K15617
PUBLICATIONS
1. Zhao C, Inada Y, Sekiguchi K, Hino K, Nishio M, Yamada Y, Matsuda S, Toguchida J, Ikeya M. Myelin protein zero (P0)- and Wnt1-Cre marked muscle resident neural crest-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells give rise to heterotopic ossification in mouse models. Genes Dis. 2022 Sep 19;10(3):731-734.
2. Mitsuzawa S1, Zhao C1, Ikeguchi R, Aoyama T, Kamiya D, Ando M, Takeuchi H, Akieda S, Nakayama K, Matsuda S, Ikeya M. Pro-angiogenic scaffold-free Bio three-dimensional conduit developed from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells promotes peripheral nerve regeneration. Sci Rep. Jul 21 2020;10(1):12034. Epub 2020/07/23.
3. Hino K1, Zhao C1, Horigome K, Nishio M, Okanishi Y, Nagata S, Komura S, Yamada Y, Toguchida J, Ohta A, Ikeya M. An mTOR Signaling Modulator Suppressed Heterotopic Ossification of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva. Stem Cell Reports. 2018;11(5):1106-19.
4. Zhao C, Ikeya M. Generation and Applications of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Stem Cells Int. 2018;2018:9601623. Epub 2018/08/30.
5. Zhao C, Ichimura A, Qian N, Iida T, Yamazaki D, Noma N, Asagiri M, Yamamoto K, Komazaki S, Sato C, Aoyama F, Sawaguchi A, Kakizawa S, Nichi M, Takeshima H. Mice lacking the intracellular cation channel TRIC-B have compromised collagen production and impaired bone mineralization. Sci Signal. May 17 2016;9(428):ra49. Epub 2016/05/18.
